Abstract:

Purpose: This study aims to determine the opinions of tourist guidance students, who are used to formal education, about distance education. Design/Methodology: Semi-structured interview method and nonrandom sampling method were used in the study. The data obtained from the forms after the interviews were subjected to content analysis. Findings: As a result of the content analysis, it was seen that 52% of the students evaluated distance education negatively. Examining the reasons why they were evaluated negatively, these reasons have been found to be: lack of face-to-face or one-to-one education and/or classroom environment, technical troubles such as internet and connection and/or lack of technical equipment such as computer, failure to make contact with, and failure to understand and to learn the lecture. The students stated that they were unwilling to study and always procrastinated their studies, could not focus on the lectures, could not use their time well and that they digressed from both lectures and school. Only 6% of the participants evaluated the distance education process positively. The students defined distance education as a system that offers a comfortable environment is easily accessible and allows much more effective use of time. Limitations: The limitation of the study is that the sample consists of only İznik Vocational School tourist guidance students and online field research due to the pandemic. Originality/Value: The study is important in terms of determining the opportunities and difficulties experienced in distance education during the COVID-19 Pandemic process and making improvements in this direction. A limited number of studies in this direction were found in the literature review.

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